Bionic Baby Steps (Chase Davenport)

Oh Brother

I woke up Monday morning excited to get to school. Today the Daven kids would be officially enrolling at Mission Creek high. Hell on Earth.

I jumped out of bed and ran a brush through my hair. Letting the brown, to golden ends cascade in waves to just past my shoulders. I picked out my outfit for the day.

I put on a pair of high waisted, black skinny jeans and a white vest top that had the symbol for Wi-Fi on the front, with the words 'home is where the Wi-Fi automatically connects.'

Slipping on my black combat boot, I grab my bag and bolt down the stairs, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter I shout, " Bye Mom!"

"Bye honey, have fun!"

I set off early, sprinting over to the Davenports house. I said I'd meet with them there and walk to school with everybody.

I knocked on the door before Tasha opened it smiling at me.

"They're all down in the lab waiting, sweetie."

"Thanks, Tasha," I smiled, making my way to the elevator. "Morning Eddy."

"Well if it isn't the stray, at least you say good morning." Complained the smart home system. I've learned to love his wit and snark.

I stepped off the elevator, walking over to the group as they were discussing the results of the glitch test.

"Adam, Bree. Your glitch test results are fairly stable." Davenport started.

"So much for waiting for me," I chastised the group smiling. Bree and Adam smirked, while Leo had jumped out of his skin. Chase smiled brightly at me, which I couldn't help but return.

Davenport gave me as side smile, which faded as he redirected the conversation to Chase.

"But Chase, I am still concerned about your commando app." He stated.

Chase's expression fell, looking disappointed and concerned. I felt my own face fall into a line of empathy.

"Commando? Put on some underpants, we're going to school." Leo remarked, his forming one of disgust.

I laugh, "I don't think that's what he meant Leo."

"No, see in the face of an imminent threat. Chase's Commando App kicks in and he becomes a fearless brute I like to call Spike!" Davenport says with a huge smile on his face. Chase has a smile on his face but looks almost bored, as Davenport has his hands on Chase's shoulders.
"It's kind of like a fight or flight thing, except I removed the flight part because, useless, and I replaced it with a testosterone level of a Tasmanian devil, wolverine, shark, lion hybrid... that's mad."

"Can I ask?" I say raising my hand slightly. "When you put that thing in, did you ever plan on him having a normal life? Because that's just reckless."

His smile dropped to a state that said 'very funny', as my own grin widened. Chase smiling at me before turning to his father.

"Don't worry Mr. Davenport, I promise that Spike won't rear his ugly head." He said calmly.

"Oh yeah? You mean like last Christmas, when I made the mistake of giving Adam boxing gloves?"

Adam shuddered, "I'm still coughing up tinsel."

"Lovely," I mumbled.

"You know, letting Chase go to school isn't such a good idea. I can't risk Spike coming out." Davenport swayed.

"What? No." I protested, following him and everyone else to the computer desk he works at.

"Come on big D, Chase has to come." Leo began pleading. "With these guys, we'll finally get a prime spot in the cafeteria."

He looked over to his new siblings smiling broadly. "That's right y'all, put on your coats because I'm about to ride your tails."

"Look, don't worry. We'll make sure he stays out of trouble." Adam offers, putting his arm around Bree. "Right guys," he says looking at the rest of us.

"Yeah," Bree pipes up. "One for all, and all for one... unless of course, you guys make me look bad. In which case, I am dropping you lame-o's." She points at her brothers.

As Chase pleads with Mr. Davenport I turn to Bree, "You won't drop me though, right?" I ask her.

"No way, we're besties already." She smiled at me. I smiled back, relieved.

"Good, because I'm already considered kind of lame at school."

I turn to Mr. Davenport and say, "Look D, you can trust me. I'll look out for Chase." I rest my arm on Chase's shoulder, which was a little harder than I thought it would have been since he's only an inch taller than me.

He looks at me with a grateful smile, and mouths a 'thank you'. I smile back and mouth him 'anytime'.

Davenport looks at us for a second.

"Okay, but I better not get a call from the art teacher saying that Spike... ripped out her larynx." He pushed. Making his point clear. "Actually she wouldn't be able to say anything, because Spike ripped out her-"

"Look point is, just keep him out of trouble. I'm putting you in charge of it, Serena, since your so confident." He points at me.

"Hey, look what I found!" Adam walks over with a pair of bright red boxing gloves. Oh no.

He starts swinging his hands, punching the air. I feel Chase move me to the other side of him swiftly as Adam swings right, knocking Chase to the floor. Wow, he just switched places with me knowing that was gonna happen.

Adam bolts back, hiding behind Bree as I drop to my knees to make sure he's okay.

"Look, I'm sorry. But if he's that close to the gloves it's gonna happen." Adam apologizes.

"You okay Chase?" I ask him, pulling him up.

"Yeah," he groans as he stands. He then smiles at me, "I'm okay."

"Good," My voice a little quieter as I get lost in his gaze again. A gentle smile on my own lips, as I let out a shaky breath I didn't know I was holding.

Someone clears their throat, snapping us both out of our daydream. We jolt apart and look at the others. My face is as red as a tomato.

"Let's get going," Leo smirks at me knowingly. "If we leave now we can still make it to breakfast."

I steal a quick glance at Chase as I pick up my messenger bag next to the cyber-desk. His face is red too as he turns to grab his own. As we're leaving out the front door, Leo pulls me slightly ahead with his.

"You like him, don't you?" Leo asks. That same smirk still plastered to his face.

"What? Who?" I play dumb, never my strongest tactic.

"Don't even try it, I know you like Chase. That's the third time you two have stared at each other like that." He pointed at me.

I sigh, smiling at him. He knows me too well.

"You can't tell anyone, Leo. I barely know him." I beg. I might like him slightly, but I need to get to know him better first.

"Okay, but you have to keep him away from your brother. If anybody could trigger his App thingy. It'd be him." He points out.

"Trust me. I know." Growling at the mention of the traitor. When my Dad left my Mom, he was just gonna leave us both with her. But my brother begged to go with him. Now they live on the other side of town. And he still makes my life a misery at school.